Bristol City fan's view with Matthew Withers: What a great atmosphere at the Ricoh.. please log in to view this image Bristol City fans travelled in huge numbers to support their team at Coventry City at the weekend. I HAVE supported Bristol City for nearly 40 years and throughout that time I have been lucky enough to experience the atmosphere of some tremendous away support. The near-4,000 following at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday never stopped singing and like Steve Cotterill, I'm sure that the fans helped pull the side through and see them over the line. The support was reported as being the largest away following in all four divisions on Saturday with many of the fans being unable to take their seat and being forced to stand in aisles and gangways, something that should have been better addressed from the stewards and police for the safety of all concerned. Bristol City have a decent record at the Ricoh and on the back of our unbeaten start and Coventry's wobble of late, many fans would have made the trip up the M5 expecting another three points. I have to say, I expected a narrow win, but when I heard the news that Korey Smith was unfit, my confidence wavered somewhat. The City players were afforded a tremendous welcome and I don't think the away end was silent for the remainder of the game. Marlon Pack who came in for Smith had the City fans up and out of their seats celebrating on 11 minutes with a shot from outside of the box that nestled into the corner, settling a few nerves. Coventry had a couple of chances in the first half, but City always seemed in control and looked like they could step up a gear when the wanted. At the moment, we are managing games really well. Kieran Agard made the half-time a sweeter experience, latching on to Wilbraham flick from a big Frank Fielding goal-kick and beating the Coventry back line to it and finding the corner of the net. That really should have killed the game off. To their credit Coventry kept going and when Aden Flint didn't spot Miller's run, the only thing Flint did wrong, it was game on again. I was surprised that Cotterill didn't make a change in the midfield as we just couldn't get control of the ball and we seemed to be running out of legs and Coventry had the upper hand. The manager has his own way of doing things and decided to bring Jay Emmanuel-Thomas on for Agard and then just after Scott Wagstaff for luke Freeman. I was frustrated by the decision as Freeman runs and runs, but within moments we were celebrating a Wagstaff goal. A quick break from JET and a fine ball into Wagstaff who cut inside and sent a sweet strike into the roof of the net for the third goal, sealing another three points. Cotterill showing he knows best. There was a particularly touching moment in the 54th minute when it seemed every single away fan applauded the late Mark 'Divvy' Saunders, many wearing 'Divvy' T-shirts. http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristo...thew-Withers/story-23266655-detail/story.html
